Boxer Ashish wins gold, India bag 8 medals at Thailand Open
Asian Championships silver-medallist boxer Ashish Kumar won the first gold medal of his international career at the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Saturday. Ashish won the gold after defeating Korea’s Kim Jinjae 5-0 in the 75 kg category. The Indian contingent ended the tournament with one gold, four silver and three bronze.
India’s Venezuelan June oil imports highest in 21 months: Reuters
India’s oil imports from Venezuela surged to about 475,200 barrels per day (bpd) in June, the highest in 21 months, according to Reuters data. Private refiners Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy, part-owned by Russia’s Rosneft, are the only Indian buyers of Venezuelan oil. These companies had a term deal to buy oil from Venezuela, which predated US sanctions in January.
Agarwal made just 6% profit on $4.3 bn Anglo investment: Reuters
Mining mogul Anil Agarwal made just 6% profit from his $4.3 billion investment in Anglo American, held since 2017, even though underlying shares rose over 50% since then, according to Reuters estimates. Agarwal’s Volcan Investments had borrowed the amount to fund the acquisition. After accounting for interest payments and investment banking fees, Volcan’s profit would have been $243-265 million.
First batch of 4 Apache helicopters arrive in India from US
US aerospace company Boeing handed over the first batch of four AH-64E Apache helicopters to the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Station Hindan on Saturday. An additional four Apache helicopters will arrive next week and all eight will be formally inducted into the IAF in September. India had placed an order for 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters in 2015.
India will never compromise its data sovereignty: Prasad
Addressing an event, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that the country will “never compromise its data sovereignty”. He added that the government will make efforts to make the country one of the world’s largest centre of data analysis. He further said, “Work is in progress on our data protection law, we’ll make a robust data protection law.”
Billionaire Dyson buys ₹225 cr bungalow with waterfall in Singapore
Weeks after buying Singapore’s most expensive apartment, a three-storey penthouse, for ₹371 crore, British billionaire inventor James Dyson purchased a ₹225 crore bungalow opposite the city’s UNESCO-listed Botanic Gardens, the Straits Times newspaper reported. The house boasts a swimming pool as well as an indoor waterfall. The 72-year-old moved his company’s headquarters from the UK to Singapore.
Trump calls mostly-black US district ‘rat infested mess’
While tweeting about Democratic lawmaker Elijah Cummings, US President Donald Trump said, “Why is so much money sent to the Elijah Cummings district (Baltimore) when it is considered the worst run and most dangerous.” Trump called Baltimore a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess”. Cummings had criticised the treatment of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
N Korea releases detained Russian fishing boat carrying 17
North Korea has released a Russian fishing boat held after being accused of violating entry regulations, the Russian embassy in North Korea said on Sunday. There were 17 people including 15 Russians and 2 South Koreans on the boat which was detained on July 17. The detention prompted a Russian warning of freezing talks on fisheries cooperation.
Agra judge forces constable to take off uniform in court; transferred
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of Agra was transferred on Saturday, a day after forcing a 58-year-old constable to take off his uniform in a packed courtroom. The judge allegedly made the policeman do this as a punishment for not giving a pass to his vehicle. The constable reportedly broke down after the incident and also applied for voluntary retirement.
Chemist who co-invented JUUL launches own e-cigarettes in China
Xing Chenyue, the chemist who had co-invented JUUL e-cigarettes and developed nicotine salts e-liquid formulation for JUUL pods, has launched her own e-cigarette product in China. “JUUL’s technology is now three years old. I don’t think it’s made any other innovation on the liquid formulation since they launched,” Xing said. She had co-founded the startup Myst Labs in 2017.
Kohli to skip WI tour presser amid rumours of rift with Rohit: Reports
India captain Virat Kohli has decided against holding a customary press conference before leaving for the tour of West Indies amid the rumours of rift between him and Rohit Sharma, as per reports. Kohli will reportedly attend a promotional event on Monday but won’t take any questions from media before boarding the flight with the team later in the day.
Mary Kom, Gaurav Bidhuri reach finals of President’s Cup
Six-time world championships gold medallist Mary Kom (51kg) and former world championships bronze medallist Gaurav Bidhuri (56kg) reached the finals at the 23rd President’s Cup in Labuan Bajo in Indonesia on Saturday. Mary, who defeated Vietnam’s Anh vo Thi Kim 3-2 in semi-finals, will face Australia’s Franks April in the final. Bidhuri beat Philippines’ Ogayre Junmilardo 3-2 in the semi-finals.
Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse for 30 years, passes away aged 75
Russi Taylor, the voice actress behind the Disney character Minnie Mouse passed away on Friday in California aged 75. “For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world,” Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger said. She had also voiced Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie in the ‘Ducktales’ animated series.
1st player to hit 6 sixes in 1 over was born with 12 fingers
Former Windies’ cricketer Garry Sobers, the first professional cricketer to score six sixes in an over, was born with six fingers on each hand. Sobers had played his first colonial game with 11 fingers, after one of the spare fingers was removed before he was nine. The other spare finger was removed with a sharp knife when he was 14.
Veteran Congress leader Jaipal Reddy passes away aged 77
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy passed away on Sunday aged 77 at a private hospital in Hyderabad after suffering from pneumonia. He served as Information and Broadcasting Minister in the IK Gujral government, and was the Urban Development Minister and later served as the Petroleum Minister in Manmohan Singh’s government.
ICICI Bank posts Q1 profit of ₹1,908 crore
India’s second-largest private lender ICICI Bank reported a profit of ₹1,908 crore in the June quarter, compared to a ₹120-crore loss in the year-ago period, driven by lower bad-loan provisioning. Its provisions declined 41.5% year-on-year in the quarter to ₹3,496 crore, with bad loans falling 51%. The bank’s net interest income rose 27% to ₹7,737 crore year-on-year for the quarter.
No review on plan to issue overseas sovereign bonds, says FM
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in an interview to Economic Times, denied reports that she has been officially asked to reassess the government’s plan to raise money via foreign-currency overseas sovereign bonds. “I’m not doing any review,” she said. Earlier, reports claimed the PMO asked for the plan to be restudied for risks and Centre may instead issue rupee-denominated offshore bonds.
European naval mission in Gulf would send hostile message: Iran
Iran has said that the proposal to form a European coalition to escort tankers through the Persian Gulf would send a hostile message. France, Italy and Denmark reportedly gave initial support for the British plan to ensure safe shipping. The plan was proposed after Iran’s seizure of a British-flagged tanker in response to seizure of an Iranian tanker by UK.
7 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy
The Sri Lankan naval personnel on Sunday arrested seven Tamil Nadu fishermen off Neduntheevu for allegedly fishing in the island nation’s territorial waters, officials said. The fishermen, however, claimed that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line due to strong winds and rough seas. The officials added that the Sri Lankan Navy has also seized their boat.
PepsiCo India to invest ₹514 crore to open a snacks plant in UP
PepsiCo India will invest ₹514 crore over three years to set up a greenfield snacks manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh, Ahmed ElSheikh, President and CEO of PepsiCo India said on Sunday. The plant is expected to create 1,500 direct and indirect jobs. The investment is in line with PepsiCo’s plan to double its snacks business in India by 2022.
Baggage container hits parked Vistara plane amid strong winds in Mumbai
An empty baggage container of another airline rolled off and hit the starboard side of one of Vistara airline’s planes’ engine due to strong winds in Mumbai on Saturday. Vistara spokesperson said that no passengers or crew were on the plane when the incident took place. The aircraft will be grounded for some time for repair work, the spokesperson added.
Tesla cars may come to India in 2020: Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk told IIT Madras students that Tesla cars may come to India in a year’s time. IIT Madras students’ ‘Avishkar Hyperloop’ team, a SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition 2019 finalist, met Musk at SpaceX headquarters in the US earlier this month. “Would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next! India,” Musk had tweeted in March.
Mary Kom wins gold medal at President’s Cup ahead of world c’ships
Six-time world champion Mary Kom won the gold medal at the 23rd President’s Cup in Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo on Sunday. The Olympic bronze medallist boxer defeated Australian April Franks 5-0 in the final. “Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder & give more effort than anyone else,” Mary Kom tweeted following her victory.
Arjun Rampal, girlfriend Gabriella name their newborn son Arik
Actor Arjun Rampal took to Instagram to reveal that he and his girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades have named their newborn son Arik. “That gracious thing made of tears, of happiness, gratitude and light. A rainbow appeared into our lives. So blessed we feel, gratitude and abundance of joy. Welcome junior Rampal, into our lives,” he wrote while sharing a picture.
Jio overtakes Vodafone Idea as largest Indian telco by users
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has overtaken Vodafone Idea to become India’s largest telecom operator by subscribers in the June quarter. While Vodafone Idea had 320 million subscribers in the quarter from the previous quarter’s 334.1 million, Jio’s subscriber base grew to 331.3 million. Jio had in May surpassed Bharti Airtel to become the country’s second-largest operator by users.
Goal to be $5-trillion economy by 2024-25 definitely achievable: CEA
India’s target to be a $5-trillion economy by 2024-25 is “definitely achievable”, said Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Krishnamurthy Subramanian, adding that there’s ambition involved. He said, “If the target’s too small then there’ll be no motivation to achieve it.” The Economic Survey 2018-19, presented by Subramanian, had stated a sustained 8% GDP growth rate is needed for the $5-trillion goal.
Meghalaya Speaker & former CM Donkupar Roy passes away at 64
Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister Donkupar Roy passed away at the age of 64 on Sunday. Roy was admitted to a hospital in Haryana’s Gurugram since July 18 over a stomach-related complication. Roy’s body will be flown back to Meghalaya by Monday for the last rites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences.
There’ll always be limits to what phone camera can achieve: Zeiss CEO
German optical systems and optoelectronics manufacturer Zeiss Group’s President and CEO Michael Kaschke said that there will always be limits to what a smartphone camera can do. Calling computational photography a “game-changer”, he said there’s more software to it and less hardware. “There is still a limitation, the smartphone can only be that thick,” he added.
